Problems and challenges
Over the past few years, governmental, academic and private institutions in Colombia have joined forces to make infrastructure issues visible not only at the primary and secondary levels, but also in terms of the country’s tertiary network. Given the urgency of intervening in the tertiary roads and proposing solutions in the short term, studies, diagnoses and research projects were carried out, which have led to the allocation of public and private resources to finance new programs and development plans for the regions with the greatest deficiency in road infrastructure. The Ministry of Transport estimates that 94% of the roads in the country’s tertiary network are not paved, which has a total length of 142,284 kilometers, according to the following tables:
- Distribution of the tertiary network by entity in charge, 2014
Source: Ministry of Transport Colombia
- Condition of the tertiary network according to the type of surface
Source: Ministry of Transport Colombia
In this context of the country, the processes and methodologies of maintenance, rehabilitation, improvement and construction have been evaluated, in order to seek new alternatives that improve the traditional systems. In terms of soils, new technologies for the stabilization of granular bases have been considered.
Soil stabilization is essential to increase resistance, avoiding deformations and wear and tear due to the use of the road, as well as the accelerated degree of deterioration caused by atmospheric agents, the normal climatic effects of the region, the volume of cargo and the increase in traffic. In most cases, stabilisation is required as a function of particle size, plasticity, moisture content and type of stabiliser, so that the soil acquires the mechanical characteristics that make it suitable for use as a pavement wearing course and/or surface course.
Electrochemistry for soil stabilisation and road infrastructure and building works, with the use of synthetic and ecological polymers, is currently framed in Colombia as a New Technology.
Government entities such as: Ministry of Transport, INVIAS, ANI, DNP, have promoted these new technologies through pilot tests, technical tables, conferences, technical seminars and innovation wheels; and have supported the companies that contribute them, with their corresponding products, among which is DYANAN SAS.
Through nanotechnology and the use of synthetic and ecological polymers, Dyanan has been working competently since 2012 for the stabilization of soil in Colombia. Soil stabilization is the process that allows to improve the ways that are vital for the local economic development of the regions and the connectivity of the country. The main problems of traditional methods of stabilization are the extra costs in maintenance, inputs, transportation, supply of quarry materials and/or extraction of aggregates from rivers, with the consequent negative environmental impact. That is why Dyanan faces the challenge of becoming a reference in nanotechnology applied to soil stabilization, through technology transfer, dissemination of knowledge applied to civil engineering and other related professions, as well as providing services to the public and private sectors.
A challenge for Concentrol
When Concentrol contacted Dyanan, the main problems of the routes to be stabilized and the possible solutions were raised and evaluated. Therefore, Concentrol designed polymers formulated to solve the acceleration of the degree of deterioration of the roads, manifested, for example, in the inexistence of drainage systems, water impoundments, accumulations of vegetable material, loose aggregates, dust, depressions caused by the wheels, hard heads, furrows, etc.lThe company’s challenge is to provide Dyanan with a specific solution that, through nanotechnology and the use of synthetic and ecological polymers, is effective and durable for the stabilization of soils, slopes, foundations and building structures.
We had dedicated a previous installment to explain the services provided by Dyanan and the importance of chemical soil stabilization. In the next installment we will focus on explaining what nanotechnology, electrochemistry and synthetic polymers are, to better understand how they work.
